Under My Skin

7

Uri squeaked as someone grabbed her arm and dragged her to one side of the hallway out of nowhere. Nang mapagsino ito ay agad niyang hinampas sa braso ang kaibigan. "What the hell, Ellexis! Muntik na akong atakihin sa puso sa'yo ah?"

He had his arms jammed on his hips like a father scolding his child. "Ako ang aatakihin sa puso kung hindi mo sasagutin kung bakit gano'n na lang ang text mo sa'kin kahapon!" he hissed at her. "What's going on?! Who are you planning to have s*x with?"

Napanganga siya, pagkatapos ay pinitik niya ang nguso nito. She rolled her eyes and adjusted the strap of her shoulder bag before she turned her back on him. Sumunod ito sa kanya ng hindi kumikibo. She knew he was just waiting for her response so she took a deep breath and started lying to him. "No one, okay? It's not as if I have a boyfriend or something."

"Then how did you come up with that kind of question?" he asked. Hinawakan siya nito ng mahigpit sa braso habang naglalakad sila. Napilitan tuloy siyang humarap dito. "You had me f*****g worried, Anthurium! Don't give your virginity kung kani kanino lang ha? Kailangan makilatis ko muna ng maigi yan!"

Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay umirap siya sa kaibigan. "Don't get your panties--your briefs--whatever you are wearing right now, in a twist, okay? It's just..." ngumuso siya, remembering what happened between her and Drae yesterday. "I was just curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat, Uri." bulong nito nang makarating sila sa ER kung saan sila naka assign ngayon. Thank god dahil pumasok na si Mina at kung papalarin, hindi niya kailangan makita sa ngayon si Drae. "Hindi pa ako handang magpakape para sa lamay mo."

She smiled and reached for her best friend's hand and squeezed it. "H'wag kang mag-alala, you'll be the first to know, in case isuko ko man ang bataan."

"Buti naman! Kundi ipapatahi ko yan kay Dra. Ramirez!" tukoy nito sa resident OB nila. Naghagikgikan silang dalawa bago tuluyang pumasok sa ER.

Sinalubong sila ng senior nurse nilang si Kira at agad silang inutusan na magadminister ng medications sa isang hypertensive patient. Uri and Elle immediately got to work. Masyado na siyang abala sa sunod sunod na pasyente nang patagong siniko siya ni Elle.

"What?"

Ngumuso ito sa may bandang entrance ng ER at saktong paglingon naman niya nang pumasok si Dr. Gonzales. Nahigit ni Uri ang hininga niya. Why does he have to be so unfairly sexy? It's like a greek god wearing green scrubs graced them with his presence. He was so breath taking with his unruly dark hair and a two day old facial hair. Ultimo habang naghuhugas ito ng kamay sa lababo ay parang nangaakit ito.

"Tulo mo lumalaway."

Inismiran si ni Elle. "Hindi ka naman masyadong halata na may pagnanasa ka kay doc."

"Hindi ah!" depensa niya. "Tumigil ka nga d'yan!"

"Sows! Wala kang maloloko dito, Anthurium Reyes! Halatang halata ka!"

"Miss Reyes? Mr. Alvarez?"

Agad silang napalingong dalawa sa head nurse ng ER. "Yes ma'am?"

"Pwede bang paki-assist si Dr. Gonzales, please? May inaasikaso lang akong pasyente. I'll be with you guys in a while. Don't worry, mabait yan si Doctor."

Yun lang at tumalikod na rin agad ang Head Nurse. Ngumisi si Ellexis sa tabi niya at bumulong bulong ng, "Oh sure, ma'am! Kahit anong klaseng pag aassist very much willing kami! Lalo na 'tong katabi ko."

Mabait? Yang lalaking yan, mabait?! Mabait lang yan pag tag libog siya! Sus! Nakanguso na sinundan niya si Elle palapit kay Drae.

Nang mag angat ng paningin sa kanila ang manggagamot ay halos natunaw na rin ang inis na nararamdaman niya para dito pagkatapos siya nitong ireject. She felt her knees weaken when his eyes focused on her. Ano ba, Uri! Magkaroon ka nga ng delikadesa! After what he did to you?! You should be suing him for s****l harrassment!

"Prepare for suturing. May darating akong pasyente." malamig na sabi nito sabay talikod.

Nagkatinginan na lang silang magkaibigan pagkatapos ay agad na tumalima. Nakatayo sila sa gilid ng isang ER bed nang pumasok sa Emergency Room ang isang lalaking hawak hawak ang kaliwang kamay nitong duguan.

"Where's Dr. Gonzales?" the guy asked. He looked around the room frantically. "Drae?! Nasan ka?"

"I'm here, you idiot."

Nilingon ni Uri si Drae na kapapasok lang ulit ng ER. Mukha namang nakahinga ng maluwag ang lalaki matapos makita ang manggagamot. "Gloves, please." utos ni Drae sa kanya. Tumango lang siya at isinerve na rito ang gloves. He beckoned his friend towards the bed beside them. Lumapit naman ito at agad na umakyat doon.

"Damn, man. This hurts like a f*****g b***h and I swear I lost a f*****g ton of blood. I'm really going to kill that woman."

Nagkatinginan sila ni Elle sa sinabi nito. "Now, this is interesting." she thought.

"Let me see that."

The man winced and handed his wounded limb to Drae. May isang mahabang laceration sa palad nito.

Drae regarded his friend suspiciously. "Really, Liam, what the hell have you been doing to Ika? Bakit niya ginawa 'to sayo?"

"Wala!" he protested. "Bakit ba lagi na lang ako yung pinapalabas ninyong masama? She did this to me! She almost killed me and now you're asking me what I did to her? Nasaan ang hustisya?!"

Dr. Gonzales actually rolled his eyes and chuckled which made Uri bite her lower lip. "Stop being melodramatic." bumaling ito sa kanya sabay dampot ng syringe na naglalaman ng anesthesia. "Suture please."

May ilang minuto din na nagusap ang dalawa tungkol sa mga bagay na hindi naman makarelate si Uri. They talked about the girl named Ika, Ram Sobrevega's father and an upcoming fashion event that Liam was trying to persuade Drae to go to.

Ilang beses naman nang nakita ni Uri na magtrabaho si Drae pero hanggang ngayon ay namamangha parin siya dito. He was really good with his hands, maybe as good as he was with his tongue. Maybe even better. Pinigilan niyang mapahagikgik. Kung anu ano nanaman iniisip niya dito samantalang dapat ay magalit parin siya sa lalaki. Well, it's hard to stay mad at him while you're watching him stitch his friend up na para bang naglililip lang ito sa isang pirasong tela. She was so amazed with Drae's mad skills that she wasn't able to hear him talking to her. "Miss Reyes, I said cut! Ano ba? Are you with us?"

Umakyat ang dugo sa mukha niya at dali daling ginawa ang inuutos nito. "Sorry, doc."

"Sorry.." inis na ulit nito sa sinabi niya with matching kunot noo.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa gunting na hawak. Ang yabang! Eh kung gawin kaya niya rito ang ginawa ng Ika na yun sa kaibigan niya?!

"Hey! Take it easy on the pretty nurse!" kastigo ni Liam sa kaibigan. He turned to her and winked. "Ang ganda mo, what's your name?"

"Uri po--"

"Don't flirt with her." napamaang si Uri kay Drae nang mapansin na nagtatagis ito ng bagang.

"Why not?" he grinned. Then his attention was back at her again. "Do you want to have dinner with me? What are you doing this coming friday?"

"Liam." Drae said, his voice laced with warning that Uri had to raise one eyebrow.

Parepareho silang napaigtad nang biglang mapasigaw si Liam. "Ouch! Ano ba? Grabe ka, napakapossessive mo naman sa mga empleyado mo!"

Hindi kumibo si Drae. Nakita ni Uri na pinisil pala nito ang palad ng kaibigan niya. "Dressing." utos nito sa kanila at saka umalis na upang maupo sa mesa ng mga ER doctors.

"Ingat ka d'yan sa boss mo, matinik yan." nakangising bulong sa kanya ni Liam bago ito bumaba mula sa ER bed at lumapit kay Drae.

Kung alam lang nito na nakatikim na siya ng katinikan ni Drae.

Binitin ka nga lang. Tudyo ng maharot na parte ng isip niya. Ipinagkibit balikat na lang niya ang warning ni Liam at inabala ang sarili sa pagliligpit ng mga ginamit nila. Hanggang sa maramdaman niyang siniko siyang muli ni Elle. "Ano nanaman?"

"Hottie number three just entered the ER." he whispered in a sing song voice.

Kunot noong napatingin siya sa entrance and true to what Elle said, tila bumaba or should she say umakyat mula sa kaharian niya si Hades, the god of the underworld. He was wearing a black vneck shirt that fitted him like second skin, faded jeans and doc martens on his feet. Grabe! He's like a rockstar. Sexy as hell rockstar.

"Oh, Scor! Bakit nandito ka? Iniistalk mo ba ako?" nakita nilang lumapit si Liam sa lalaki. They clapped each other's back.

"Don't flatter yourself, I came here for Drae."

"Grabe!" Liam put his good hand over his heart in feigned hurt. "Ako yung nadisgrasya oh! Ako yung pinagtangkaang patayin! Nakakaselos na talaga kayong dalawa! Susumbong ko kayo kay Ram!"

The guy called Scor just stared at Liam for a good five seconds then said, "Para kang tanga."

He strode towards Drae and Uri just couldn't help but admire him. Hindi man ito kasing hot ni Drae sa paningin niya na ultimo ballpen na hawak nito ngayon ay kinaiinggitan niya, this Scor guy came close second. Totoo nga yata na birds of the same feathers flock together, dahil puro gwapo ang mga kaibigan ni Dr. Gonzales.

Mga bastos din kaya sila?

"What are you doing here? I told you, I don't know where my sister is." bungad ni Drae dito. Inabot nito ang prescription kay Liam. "Umalis na nga kayo."

"Masama bang bisitahin ka?" Scor propped his hips against Drae's desk. "Besides..." napamaang siya nant bumaling ito sa kanya at kumindat. "You have pretty nurses here."

Uri heard Drae groan.

"For f**k's sake, man.."

Lumapit si Scor sa kanya at napaatras siya ng kaunti.

"Don't be scared." he drawled sexily. My god! "I'm Scorpio Ledesma, and you are?"

"U-Uri--" inilahad nito ang kamay sa kanya na atubili niyang tinanggap. Nahihiya siya sa mga kasamahan nila sa ER pero ayaw naman din niyang maging bastos sa lalaki.

"Do you mind if I--"

"That's enough!" Drae stood from his chair and walked out of the ER.

Gulat na nagkatinginan si Uri at Ellexis sa inasal ng manggagamot. Nagtawanan naman ang mga kaibigan nito.

"Talagang nasisiraan na ng bait si Drae." tatawa tawang sabi ni Liam.

Scor just shook his head smiling as if he won a lottery or something. "He's a goner." he commented then turned towards her. "So, are you up for a dinner or something?"

"Teka! Nauna akong magyaya sa kanya!" kontra ni Liam.

Scor raised his brows at her as if waiting for a reply.

"Miss Reyes!"

Her eyes widened at Drae's loud voice. Napalingon sa kanila ang ilang mga staff ng ER.

"Yes, Doc?" nakangiwing sagot niya.

"Drae.." Scor narrowed his eyes at his friend.

Dr. Gonzales just gave him a pointed glare and turned his back. Agad siyang sumunod dito. He was walking briskly when she caught up with him. "Doc, may kailangan po ba kayo sa'kin?"

"Yes." he stopped walking. Hinarap siya nito na tila may galit sa mga mata. "I need you to stop flirting with my friends."

Bumagsak ang panga ni Uri sa sinabi ni Drae. Tila umakyat lahat ng dugo niya sa ulo at nang magsimulang talikuran siya muli ng doctor ay hinigit nya ang braso nito.

"You're a f*****g asshole, do you know that?"

Drae raised a brow at her. "I know that already. But tell me," he pursed his lips "who gave you the right to talk to me like that?"

"You gave me the right to call you an ass the minute you..." tumingin muna siya sa paligid niya upang makasiguro na walang nakakarinig sa usapan nila. "you ditched me!" she hissed.

"At ikaw pa ngayon ang may ganang sabihin sa akin na I should stop flirting with your friends?" she let out a sarcastic laugh. "Kapal ng face mo! Kasalanan ko ba if your friends find me attractive and that you don't seem to share the same opinion?"

It was his turn to laugh. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah right! And I also happen to not know what the hell is wrong with you." inekis niya ang mga braso sa dibdib. "Kung hindi lang ikaw ang may ari ng hospital na to, sinapak na kita."

"I can have you kicked out of here right now."

"And I can have your licensed revoked because you sexually harrassed me!"

Naningkit ang mata ni Drae at hinila na lang siya nito basta sa isang abandunadong kwarto. He pushed her against the wall and braced his hands on either side of her. He lowered his mouth near her ear and whispered, "I can sexually harrass you again right now. Is that what you want?"

"Lumayo ka nga sakin!" piksi ni Uri.

"Hindi ko gusto na parati ka na lang may sagot sa bawat sabihin ko. I like my women submissive, Miss Reyes," he drawled. Why can't he stop being so f*****g sexy all the f*****g time? "and you are not one."

Lumayo ito sa kanya. Mailap ang mga mata nito. "That's the reason I ditched you."